"Third Elder, I will absolutely not go to the Land of Snow. I never want to return to that place in my life!"
Inside the dressing room, Koyuki Kazahana applied light makeup, enhancing her already beautiful features. However, her pupils held a cold glint, and her tone was resolute.
"Miss, this is the crew's arrangement. You also promised the director that you would finish filming the drama 'Princess Snow's Great Adventure.' It wouldn't be good to breach the contract," Asama San Futao persuaded patiently.
"If I say I'm not going, then I'm not going! Whoever wants to go to that place can go!"
Koyuki Kazahana interrupted the makeup artist's touch-ups, grabbed her coat, and ran out the door.
Asama San Futao watched Koyuki Kazahana's retreating figure and couldn't help but sigh.
"Miss, running away is useless. You will have to face it sooner or later."
Asama San Futao glanced at the time and murmured, "It's almost time. I hope the Leaf ninja who accepted the commission this time will be reliable."
Asama San Futao also had a selfish motive. Using the excuse of the film crew's shooting, he commissioned a mission from the Leaf Village at a low price. This way, they could gain the protection of a great ninja village and also involve the Leaf Village in the turmoil of the Land of Snow.
Perhaps they could even use the Leaf ninja to quell the rebellion... but he would have to see the situation. He hoped the Leaf Village was as powerful as the rumors said.
Clip-clop.
A white horse galloped out from the set. A beautiful woman sat on its back, it was Koyuki Kazahana.
"What Land of Snow? Who in their right mind would go there!"
Koyuki Kazahana bit her delicate lower lip, seemingly recalling childhood memories. She quickly shook her head. She absolutely refused to return to that place filled with terrifying memories.
Koyuki Kazahana stroked the hexagonal crystal pendant hanging around her neck, her eyes filled with reminiscence. She had once lived a happy life, but all of it was destroyed.
Hee-haw!
Suddenly, as if startled by something, the white horse beneath Koyuki Kazahana became uncontrollable. Its front hooves stamped repeatedly, and it whinnied in fear.
"What's wrong?"
Koyuki Kazahana held the reins tightly, maintaining her balance, and looked forward. Her beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and her full red lips involuntarily exclaimed, "A dog?"
The horse was scared by a dog? And such a small dog at that. This was truly...
Koyuki Kazahana tried to comfort the horse, but it was completely unresponsive. Its dark eyes were filled with fear and dread.
As an animal, it could sense that the "little dog" before it was at the top of the food chain, capable of swallowing it whole with a mere opening of its mouth.
"Shiro, why are you running around again? There are no brats here." A red-haired youth emerged from the crowd, scooped up Shiro by the scruff of his neck, causing the dog to flail its limbs in the air.
"Stop messing around, it's almost time for the gathering."
Lin Yu saw Shiro still baring its teeth at the white horse frozen in the middle of the road and asked, "What? You want to eat horse meat?"
Shiro nodded vigorously, its white teeth bared, looking like it was about to drool.
Shiro's eagerness to eat horse meat instantly sent the white horse into a frenzy. It bucked its hindquarters, throwing Koyuki Kazahana off its back. With a whinny, it galloped backward.
This man and dog were too wicked! The horse couldn't stand it!
The incident happened so suddenly that Koyuki Kazahana only had time to gasp before she found herself flying through the air. She wasn't a ninja, and falling from this height would surely injure her.
Koyuki Kazahana's beautiful eyes squeezed shut. She could already imagine her fate and felt a surge of anger. How could there be a horse that was afraid of dogs? It was outrageous!
Koyuki Kazahana braced herself for a painful landing, but the expected pain never came. Instead, her clothes were suddenly pulled tight at her chest, accentuating her curves perfectly.
Feeling the strange sensation at her chest, Koyuki Kazahana slowly opened her eyes. She then saw herself and a peculiar-looking dog facing each other, both being held by the scruff of their necks.
"Ah! Let go of me!"
With a thud, Koyuki Kazahana rubbed her backside, her eyes red as she looked at Lin Yu. "What are you doing!"
"Didn't you say 'let go of me'?"
Lin Yu glanced at the young girl before him and then compared her to the commission request he held.
"As expected! The photo is much better than the real person!"
Koyuki Kazahana's beautiful eyes blazed with anger. This guy couldn't even control his pet, causing her horse to be startled, and now he was telling her to her face that she looked worse than her photo.
How hateful!
Hiss, my butt hurts. I can't let this go!
After a moment of stunned silence, Koyuki Kazahana leaned in to look at the commission request in Lin Yu's hand and asked in confusion, "Strange, I didn't request anything from the Leaf Village."
Then, Koyuki Kazahana saw Asama San Futao's name. She instinctively snatched the commission request from Lin Yu's hand and crumpled it into a ball, gritting her teeth in anger. "San Futao, this guy is too meddlesome! I will never go to the Land of Snow."
"Sorry, since you are not the client, you have no right to choose whether to go or not. Also, I hope you can iron this commission request and return it to me intact."
Koyuki Kazahana laughed angrily. "Is the Leaf Village this overbearing? I'm just not going. What are you going to do? Are you going to tie me up and force me?"
Lin Yu gave Shiro a look and said, "Shiro, bite her!"
Koyuki Kazahana blinked, then let out a soft laugh, thinking that everyone was as timid as that scared horse.
She, Koyuki Kazahana, would never be afraid of a pet dog!
A moment later...
"Help! Someone save me!"
On the street, a woman in a luxurious costume was being chased by a pet that resembled a ninja dog. Although the woman was shouting for help, the onlookers recognized her as the recently popular actress and assumed it was a scene from a movie, stopping to watch the show.
Lin Yu followed at a leisurely pace. Compared to Kaguya, a girl burdened with the fate of restoring her country like Koyuki Kazahana held much less appeal.
Honestly, if he hadn't stumbled upon the mission request, Lin Yu would have almost forgotten about such a country.
Oh, right! And the Land of Waves!
Lin Yu pondered. What if the story only began after he defeated all the bosses?
It shouldn't be that ridiculous.
Lin Yu scratched his head. He didn't have a strong impression of the boss in the Land of Snow, someone named Gato, was it? His strength was probably Chunin? Jonin?
Well, he had completely lost interest.
Inside the theater tent, Koyuki Kazahana, looking disheveled, fled back. It was the first time in her life she had seen a dog's mouth open wider than her own face.
The ninja world was indeed something she, an ordinary person, could not comprehend.
"Miss, you're back. These are the Leaf ninja who accepted the commission. They will escort us to the Land of Snow until filming is complete."
Asama San Futao introduced the members of Team 7 led by Kakashi to Koyuki Kazahana and said with a smile, "With the escort of Leaf ninja, I believe Miss will no longer need to be afraid."
Koyuki Kazahana eyed Kakashi and the others warily, patting her chest with lingering fear. She tentatively asked, "Is there a red-haired man among you who hasn't arrived yet?"
Kakashi said in surprise, "Does Miss Koyuki know Teacher Lin Yu?"
"Will his pet dog be accompanying us as well?"
Naruto nodded. "Shiro is very cute, and he also likes Ichiraku Ramen!"
Koyuki Kazahana's eyes widened in alarm, and she shouted, "I absolutely, absolutely will not go with them!"
"Absolutely!"